NEWS 25 - WEHT: Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro-Newburgh Residents Confused Again Over Mailbox Issue

Newburgh Residents Confused Again Over Mailbox Issue

story by Courtney Gousman

NEWBURGH, IN – The debate over mailboxes continues in Newburgh. Several residents have been asked to move their mailboxes to the curb to make delivery more efficient.

Postal officials say customers do have a choice in the matter, but a series of letters have residents confused and upset.

The postal service admits it was wrong for not asking for customers' permission in writing to move their mailboxes curbside.

A second letter to residents was supposed to address the issue, but it appears to be making things worse.    

Judy Klueg says she's just one of the many upset residents on her block, when it comes to this second letter sent out by Newburgh's post office, asking her to move her mailbox down to the curb.

Only Klueg tells NEWS 25, she doesn't feel like the post office is giving her an option.

"It's getting a little bit much when you tell older people or handicapped people that they're going to have to get a letter from their physician in order to get their mail," says Klueg.

Klueg is talking about this line, which says, "In hardship cases, all you have to do is enclose a letter from your physician and the letter carrier will continue to deliver to your door.”

"I think it's very misleading. If it was going to be optional, why didn't they put it at the top of the letter," says Klueg.

But, the choice is optional for Newburgh residents. Last week NEWS 25 talked to postal officials. They confirmed customers do not have to move their boxes if they so choose.

NEWS 25 asked a U.S Postal Service spokesperson, “Why not let people know they had a choice in this matter?”

David Walton tells us, "We want people-- why would we-- we don't want to discourage people from doing this."

Newburgh Town Manager, Cynthia Burger tells NEWS 25, she's heard from many confused and upset residents.

"We had contacted the postmaster general in Washington D.C., Congressman Ellsworth's office and Senator Lugar's office,” says Burger.

“There comes a point when you have to say I can't do this," says Klueg.

The post office says 40 people out of about 250 have already complied.

A leader with the local letter carriers union tells me he plans to file a grievance about the letters.